Question. My 8 year-old
girl has to go to the bathroom very often and whenever she passes
urine she screams in pain. She won't let me even wash her and says
that the urine is burning. The area has become red and tender. I went
to the doctor and was told that it is a urinary infection after doing
a routine urine examination. Please let me know if there is anything
in Homoeopathy for this condition as I am not in favor of giving heavy
antibiotics to my child and how do we prevent and treat this infection?

Answer. Yes, your child seems to be suffering from
a urinary tract infection (UTI) which is one of the most common infections
that children suffer from.

WHAT CAUSES THIS INFECTION?

Our urine is
normally sterile that is free from organisms like bacteria, viruses
and fungi. It contains fluids, salts, and waste products. An infection
occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract
infect the opening of the urethra and begin to multiply. Most of the
infections arise from one type of bacteria known as Escherichia coli
(E. coli), which normally live in the colon. In most cases the infection
is limited to the urethra and this is called urethritis. Sometimes
the infection can move on to the bladder causing cystitis. If the
infection is left untreated then it can reach the kidneys and cause
serious complications. The other common organisms causing infection
are Chlamydia and Mycoplasma in both men and women but unlike E. coli
these are sexually transmitted and are limited to the urethra and
reproductive system.

WHO ARE THE PEOPLE MORE PRONE TO UTI ?

Some children
and adults are more prone to UTI than others. Any child with an abnormality
of the urinary tract that obstructs the flow of urine will develop
an infection repeatedly. Another common source of infection is catheters,
or tubes placed in the bladder. Obstructions to the flow of urine
like kidney stones or an enlarged prostate will make the person more
prone to these infections. Some elderly people who have lost bladder
control and require a catheter for life are at a very high risk of
developing UTI. Also people who are diabetics are at greater risk
of developing a UTI because of changes in the immune system. Any therapy
given for an illness, which tends to suppress the immune system are
at risk of getting a UTI.

WHY ARE GIRLS MORE PRONE TO THESE INFECTIONS?

Urinary tract infections are rarely seen in boys
and young men. However in women the rate gradually increases with
age. Doctors are still not sure why this is so but there are a few
theories. One factor may be that the female urethra is short, which
allows the bacteria quick access to the bladder. Also, a female's
urethral opening is near sources of bacteria from the anus and vagina.
For many women sexual intercourse seems to trigger an infection. Also
women who use diaphragm or other forms of intra-uterine contraceptive
devices are more likely to develop UTI. Many women suffer from repeated
attacks of UTI.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS OF A UTI?

Not everyone
who has a UTI will suffer from symptoms and signs but most people
get at least some. These are:

1. frequent urging to urinate

2. painful
urination

3. burning feeling in the area of the bladder or urethra
during urination

4. sometimes there is a feeling of fatigue, over-tired,
shaky

5. there may be burning even when not urinating

6. sometimes
women feel uncomfortable pressure above the pubic bone

7. men may
experience a fullness in the rectum

8. the urine may look milky or
cloudy, even reddish if there is blood present

9. Fever, pain in the
back or side below the ribs, nausea and vomiting indicate that the
infection has reached the kidneys.

10. A child may seem irritable,
not eat well and have a fever which is unexplained.

The diagnosis
of UTI can be confirmed by doing a urine routine examination most
of the time. Sometimes a urine culture may be needed to isolate the
offending organism. If an obstruction is suspected then an X-ray may
be taken. Ultrasound is another effective test to determine the
cause. Rarely an intravenous pyelogram is done

TREATMENT

If the child
has some malformations or abnormalities in the urinary tract then
surgical intervention may be needed to correct it. If there is some
obstruction to the flow of urine it needs to be corrected like an
enlarged prostate. Prevention Here are some pointers on how to avoid
getting repeated attacks of UTI especially in females:

1. Drink plenty
of WATER everyday. Vitamin C is an important supplement, which inhibits
the growth of bacteria by acidifying the urine.

2. Urinate when you
feel the urge, do not resist the urge and hold the urine in the bladder.

3. When using toilet paper wipe yourself from front
to back to prevent bacteria around the anus from entering the vagina
or urethra.

4. Take showers instead of tub baths.

5. Cleanse
the genital area before sexual intercourse.

6. Empty the bladder before
and after sexual intercourse.

HOMOEOPATHIC REMEDIES

In Homoeopathy
we have excellent remedies for UTI. The best remedy is the constitutional
one especially if the infection is chronic. The medicine should be
prescribed by your Physician after he/she has taken down all the symptoms.
There are some remedies though which are very effective for UTI. Here
are a few.

CANTHARIS

Cantharis or Spanish Fly is an excellent
remedy for UTI. Here there is an intolerable, constant urge to pass
urine all the time. Along with the urge there is also a lot of pain.
While passing urine the patient says that it "scalds" him
and there is a lot of burning in that area. He has to sit for a long
time because the urine passes drop by drop. The urine does not look
clear and normal. There may be gravel in the urine especially in children.
There is fear of drinking anything because the person suffers from
constant pain before, during, and even after passing the urine and
there is no relief except by rubbing or lying quietly on the back.
There may fever along with the urinary troubles.

Cantharis 30, 5 pills
four times a day will give great relief from the pain and clear the
urine.

BERBERIS VULGARIS

This is a wonderful remedy for
kidney stones and the all the problems they cause. Here the patient
says that he has a strange "bubbling" sensation in the kidney region
which is also very sore. He cannot bear to walk or even stand when
there is an attack of pain. There is a lot of "burning" pains,
during and after urination. The person always feels that some urine
is still there in the bladder after urinating but nothing comes out.
That is why he feels like going to urinate frequently. The urine looks
abnormal and maybe yellowish, red, turbid, looks slimy or sandy. If
there is a stone then there will be violent cutting pains which travel
from the kidney to the bladder. It is usually the left kidney that
is affected.

Berberis 200, 5 pills four times a day will give
great relief from the terrible pain.

TEREBINTHINA Terebinthina is
a wonderful remedy when there is blood present in the urine. This
makes the urine look smoky, with sediments which look like coffee
grounds and there is a peculiar strong odor coming from it. There
is a terrible pain while passing the urine which is very scanty in
quantity. The person is most distressed while passing urine because
of the burning pain.

Terebinthina 30, 5 pills four times a day will
take care of the bleeding and pain.

SILICEA

When there is a history
of repeated urinary tract infections in a person then Silicea is one
of the most important remedies to stop this process. Very effective
in children who suffer from bedwetting because of worms. There is
usually pus present in the urine which looks bloody and has some sediment
present. The patient may complain of a discharge from the urethra
which smells foul and has a curdy, thick appearance. A silicea patient
is very chilly and cannot tolerate cold, drafts and uncovering. They
prefer warmth and want to be wrapped up and are better after urinating.

Silicea 30, 5 pills four times a day will take care
of the infection and discharge.